Words.
In the morning, words invigorate me.
I wake up to emails and Facebook and Twitter. On my drive to work, I seek out the talkers on the radio. From the poignant, thought-provoking stories on NPR to the celebrity gossip/random musings on the Pop station, I drink it all up. I flip channels when the music starts. I. Want. The. Words.
I listen to the choices people make. Interesting that she said ‘embrace’ instead of ‘hug’ and I wonder why. I fold words I’ve known forever back into my vocabulary. I collect inspiration for later writings.
Yes, I start my day as a writer.
And then, all day long, I talk. And I listen. And words flood over me and out of me. I try to catch them all. I try to carry them with me. But, word-by-word, they become heavy.
In the evening, words exhaust me.
I look for solace anywhere. I put away the emails and Facebook and Twitter. On my drive home from work, I seek out the music on the radio. I hum along. No words, just notes. At home, I turn on more music. I sing to Baby as we pack her lunch and make her dinner. Because somehow, in the singing, the words are easier to take. They are no longer just words, they are melodies. I take photos. I drink up the sights of my daughter dropping grapes into a bowl and watch my husband as he walks in the door and quietly decompresses from his day. I savor these wordless memories and enjoy the quiet of these moments.
To end my day, I draw. Lines and colors coming together to create an image and convey a message without words. I settle into the softness of such a message, welcoming interpretation.
Yes, I end my day as a visual artist.
And by the morning, I am ready for the words again.
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Linking up with the extraordinary Heather at The Extraordinary Ordinary for Just Write. And also linking up with Momalom for a post about ‘words.’ It was a prompt I couldn’t resist.
April 24, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Fascinating. I never really thought about it that way but I guess I’m the same way, except I’m the opposite. I start my morning with the visuals and collect the words throughout the day. They crescendo at night, when I’m by myself with my own thoughts and they can form freely with no interruptions of little tummies needing snacks. That’s when my writing begins.
April 24, 2012 at 3:26 pm
A lovely, lovely post. I could totally relate. I do much of my writing at night, though, so there is no escaping the words at the end of the day.
April 24, 2012 at 4:15 pm
So lovely. I love how you describe the arc of a day, and the movement from words to pictures. I feel a similar exhaustion with words by the end of my day, but maybe it’s more with the spoken word, because I mostly take refuge in my bed alone with a book.
April 24, 2012 at 5:29 pm
This is gorgeous. I’ve never thought about it, but music takes the edge off words for me too. I seek silence by the end of the day. Then, in that quiet, I can put pen to paper .
April 24, 2012 at 6:17 pm
I can relate. I take on and write so many words during the day that I am overwhelmed by nightfall. And how impressive that you shift to art. The creativity pools and flows through you constantly. So glad you visited me today. Thanks for leaving a comment.
April 24, 2012 at 8:03 pm
This is so interesting…I’ll have to think about this! I think I almost always choose words over music ~ even prefer tv in the back ground to music! I’m going to use this as a jumping off point to reflect a bit on how/when I process the words that swirl around my world!
April 24, 2012 at 8:04 pm
This was a very lovely read. We ahve to respect and nurture the many facets of our being and I love that you do that and comfortably call yourself writer and visual artist at different times of the day.
April 24, 2012 at 11:57 pm
I love this glimpse of your creative path.
It’s lovely.
April 25, 2012 at 6:55 am
I’m just the opposite. I am quite, wordless in the mornings, taking in impression and have my best way with words in the evening or at night.
April 25, 2012 at 8:07 am
Really neat exploration of your creative world here. I think I am at my most wordy in the late morning. Early mornings for me are all about the physical – working out.
April 25, 2012 at 10:05 am
Ah, so you’re a well rounded multi-tasker!
April 25, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Beautifully written, these words of your day. The shifting and recognition that you need different forms at different times. This will stay with me. Thank you.
April 26, 2012 at 8:47 am
Thanks so much, everyone, for your comments! It’s such fun to read about how we all process words and funnel our creativity throughout the day. I’m inspired by those of you who, through exhaustion, find your way back to quiet and words at the end of the day. This kind of reflection is so helpful to our process as writers.
April 26, 2012 at 9:53 am
This is beautiful. Unfortunately, words seem to be tiring me out more often than they used to. I was thinking I needed a vacation. Maybe I just need to get out the coloring book and crayons.
Stopping by from SITS.
April 28, 2012 at 2:04 pm
I love how you describe this, beautiful.
April 29, 2012 at 2:10 am
yep i totally relate…great to find you from the weekend link-up….i am a professional artist and published writer so this balance between words and the wordless is fascinating!